NextUpAZ’s 5A Awards Watchlist

With the AIA regular season entering the final two weeks, the race to the end is expected to be one of the most exciting finishes the association has ever seen.

Playoff seeding and region titles are on the line and leading the way are the talented athletes on the court fighting for 32 minutes a game for a chance to help their teams.

For the 5A conference, the season has been a referendum on what people expect year in and year out from the schools battling within the conference. Inner-city and underfunded schools have stood out with multiple all-conference caliber players and a few have positioned themselves to make the postseason for the first time in a long while. On the flip side, some of the expected powerhouses have gotten better as the year has gone on leading to a stellar race to the finish.

That’s why the team of NextUpAZ got together and decided to nominate players for regular season awards which will be announced during the playoffs.

---

These nominees were selected by Delon Bowen, Spencer Goldberg, Gregg Rosenberg, Aaron Villa, John Millyard, Cedric Cobb Sr., and Jacob Seliga

The players nominated are eligible to be voted on for regular season awards, all-conference, all-state, and all-class teams by NextUpAZ in February and March.

A player that wasn’t nominated or listed in this cycle of voting still can be added to the list between now and the bracket release show on the morning of February 13th.

The following date will be when the final watchlist is released: February 4 (4A)

The regular season awards finalists will be released on February 6 for both 3A & 2A.

Player of the year:

• John Mattingly, Central

• Maurice Carter II, Willow Canyon

• Brayden Barrett, Verrado

• Carsyn Dean, Ironwood

• Conner Tefteller, Campo Verde

• Jaydon Hayes, Willow Canyon

• Marcus Isaac, Mountain Pointe

• Jackson Moore, Cienega

• AJ Harris, Canyon View

• Josh McManaway, McClintock

• Aveon Williams, Casa Grande

• CJ Johnson, Desert Edge

• Johnny Rios, Centennial

• Prince Cash, Carl Hayden

• Isaiah Carter, La Joya

• James Davis, Independence

• PJ Nowlin, Canyon View

• Nickolas Williams, Betty Fairfax

Coach of the year:

• Jayce Tilley, Campo Verde

• Matthew Ruiz, Cienega

• Kaimarr Price, Mountain Pointe

• Darren Bustos, Central

• Kyle Monaghan, Independence

• Cameron Johnson, Desert Edge

• Joseph Colletti, Willow Canyon

• Jordan Augustine, Ironwood

• Mark Schumaker, Paradise Valley

• David Hofmann, La Joya

• Dennis Baker, Buena

Defensive Player of the year:

• Jaden Rodgers, Cienega

• Anthony Stokes, Canyon View

• Marcus Isaac, Mountain Pointe

• AJ Harris, Canyon View

• Grant Mattingly, Central

• Zen London, Mountain Pointe

• Solomon Smith, Desert Edge

• Dewey Henry, Ironwood

• Sekou Sackor, Centennial

• Isaiah Gill, Mountain View Marana

• Elie Iranzi, Sierra Linda

• Remy Rose, Carl Hayden

• Azariah Reetz, Carl Hayden

Most Outstanding Freshman:

• CJ Johnson, Desert Edge

• Taylan Owens, Canyon View

• Azariah Reetz, Carl Hayden

• Remy Rose, Carl Hayden

• Brexton Quinet, Desert Mountain

• Kha’leal Brown, McClintock

  
  

Most Outstanding Sophomore:

• Grant Mattingly, Central

• Maurice Carter II, Willow Canyon

• Jaydon Hayes, Willow Canyon

• Davion Rhymes, Carl Hayden

• Marcus Issac, Mountain Pointe

• Mekhi Storkel, Desert Edge

• Justin Kimbrough, Mountain Pointe

• Bronson Hedges, Campo Verde

• Elie Iranzi, Sierra Linda

• Jayvein Moody, Mountain Pointe

• Charles Arbizu, Independence

Most Outstanding Junior:

• Conner Tefteller, Campo Verde

• Jackson Moore, Cienega

• PJ Nowlin, Canyon View

• Carsyn Dean, Ironwood

• Isaiah Gill, Mountain View Marana

• Nickolas Williams, Betty Fairfax

• Xaime Reyes, Desert View

Most Outstanding Senior:

• Josh Dillard, Ironwood

• Jaden Rodgers, Cienega

• John Mattingly, Central

• Brayden Barrett, Verrado

• AJ Harris, Canyon View

• Prince Cash, Carl Hayden

• Isaiah Carter, La Joya

• Aveon Williams, Casa Grande

• James Davis, Independence

• Johnny Rios, Centennial

• Josh McManaway, McClintock

• Andrew Evans, Betty Fairfax